With the out-of-the-box success of their debut single, "I Loved Her First," Heartland seems to be one of those overnight success stories. But it's not that simple. In reality the band worked for years to develop the song and stagecraft that brought them to the attention of veteran Music Row executive Mike Borchetta, who signed Heartland to his Lofton Creek Records label. And with that leadoff song already established as a bona-fide wedding standard, these guys are off to a great start.

The members of Heartland - guitarists Craig Anderson and Mike Myerson, bassist Keith West, lead singer Jason Albert, fiddler Chuck Crawford and drummer Todd Anderson - are Alabama-based in more ways than one, having been strongly influenced from day one by a certain superstar Country band from their home state. Back in1997 the band got their first shot at stardom performing at the June Jam, Alabama's annual concert event in Fort Payne, Ala. For Heartland, playing the June Jam was a defining moment.

Lately, Heartland has been busy on the road in support of their debut album, I Loved Her First, which was produced by "I Loved Her First" co-writer Walt Aldridge and released in October.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

Who is your musical hero?
ALBERT: "Sam Cooke."
WEST: "Elvis."

What CD is on your stereo?
ALBERT: "Los Lonely Boys."
MYERSON: "Conway Twitty."
WEST: "Merle Haggard."

What song do you wish you had written?
ANDERSON: "'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.'"

Do you prefer planes, trains or automobiles?
WEST: "Fast cars."

Which song would you like to cover?
Band: "'Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution' by AC/DC."

What song do you sing in the shower?
ANDERSON: "'Dirt,' by Motley Crue."
MYERSON: "'Fruit Salad,' by The Wiggles."

On the Web: www.heartlandcountry.cc

Jason Michael Carroll is a 28-year-old North Carolinian who's not afraid to dream big. As a preacher's son, Carroll grew up not being allowed to listen to "secular" music, but like any resourceful young man, he eventually found his dream emanating from the radio.

Carroll became obsessed with Country Music and quickly got his first break, winning a local radio station's karaoke contest. As a result of that triumph, he was asked to join a local band. His appearance on "Gimme the Mic," an "American Idol"-style show for local FOX television affiliates, led Carroll to a national competition in New York City where he caught the attention of manager Rusty Harmon, who had helped Hootie & the Blowfish to multi-Platinum success. A subsequent meeting with producer Don Gehman (John Mellencamp, REM) led Carroll to a deal with Arista Nashville.

Things started falling into place when he was given the opportunity to write with Jewel, a singer/songwriter he had long admired. They collaborated (with Shaye Smith) on the ballad "No Good in Goodbye," which they recorded as a duet on Carroll's Gehman-produced debut album Waitin' in the Country, released Feb. 6. An unflinching look at the life and death of an abused child, first single "Alyssa Lies" is one of five songs written or co-written by Carroll on the album, and is quickly climbing the charts. The single has already set multiple records, and it's massive airplay success has now made Carroll the first new male Country artist in two and a half years to take a debut single into the Country airplay Top 5.

PHOTO BY DAVID JOHNSON

Arista Nashville recording artist Jason Michael Carroll.

Chris Young came to national attention the new-fashioned way, by winning the fourth season of the audience-voted reality TV show "Nashville Star" which aired on USA Network. But when it comes to his music, this Murfreesboro, Tenn., native is all about deep Country tradition. With a list of influences that includes Marty Robbins, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Hank Williams, Young is dedicated to putting a new twist on old Country and with his self-titled RCA Records debut, he's off to an auspicious start.

The album, which was produced by Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire), was released on Sept. 26. The album's leadoff single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely," which the singer performed on "Nashville Star," is already familiar to legions of fans of the show and is currently climbing the Country charts. Young co-wrote the song with Larry Wayne Clark, and he's also listed as co-writer on four of the album's 11 cuts.

Young entered showbiz as a 9-year-old when they needed one more kid to sing and dance in his hometown's Fourth of July celebration. After that first taste, he was off and running, joining school and church choirs and auditioning for the GRAMMY Choir, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and grabbing every other opportunity he could get his hands on. With his grandfather providing the classic Country album collection and the guitar lessons, Young studied the masters and began perfecting his vocal and performing style.

During a backstage vocal warm-up at his recent Grand Ole Opry debut, Young and his grandfather performed a duet version of Marty Robbins' "Begging to You," the first song his grandfather taught him to play on guitar. After a rousing performance at the 2006 CMA Music Festival, Young spent the summer on the road with the "Nashville Star" tour.

PHOTO BY RUSS HARRINGTON

RCA recording artist Chris Young.

With her background as a successful pop solo artist, Michelle Branch likens her participation in the new duo, The Wreckers, to a "chance to start over at a new school." Sure enough, although their unique vocal chemistry may occasionally bring to mind some classic duos, The Wreckers (consisting of Branch and musical partner Jessica Harp) serve up a brand of Country Music that is anything but old school.

Stand Still, Look Pretty, their Maverick Records / Warner Bros. Records Nashville debut, released on May 23, is an intriguing blend of singer-songwriter sensibilities and heartfelt Country roots, all served up with a 21st century sonic wallop.

For Branch and Harp, who were both working on successful pop careers when they met, the evolution of The Wreckers was as organic as the music on their debut. With friends constantly telling them that one reminded them of the other, the two artists began their collaboration by e-mail, eventually bonding over their favorite indie releases. They finally met face-to-face in a Kansas City airport terminal, and Harp was soon on the road singing background vocals in Branch's band. When post-show jam sessions started gelling into Country-inflected songs, the duo knew they were onto something, and Branch suddenly saw the answer to the nagging question, "What's next?"

Heading to New York, The Wreckers hooked up with producer John Leventhal (Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Patty Larkin), who had worked with Branch on her last release, Hotel Paper, recording the bulk of what would become Stand Still, Look Pretty. Los Angeles producer John Shanks (Sheryl Crow, Pink) and Nashville hitmaker Paul Worley (Big & Rich, Martina McBride) also helped to flesh out The Wreckers' sound. Although Branch and Harp contributed 10 of their own songs to their debut, the album's leadoff single, "Leave the Pieces," was written by Nashville tunesmiths Jennifer Hanson and Billy Austin.

PHOTO BY NICK SPANOS

Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp are 'The Wreckers.'

Win an autographed copy of Memarie's new CD single "Cry Like Memphis" courtesy of Cupit Records

Louisiana born and bred, Memarie (pronounced Memory) is the epitome of Southern charm and grace – yet don’t be fooled. The new Cupit recording artist can definitely rock with the best of them and proves it with the single "Cry Like Memphis." Memarie proves she’s as sassy as she is sweet.

Win a copy of Hoedown Artist Emerson Drive's new album "Countrified" courtesy of Midas Records

Most recently, Emerson Drive released their brand new album, "Countrified," containing the current single, "A Good Man." "Moments" was first released in the United States and later in Canada. "Countrified Soul" was was the number 1 video on CMT's "Chevy Top 20 Countdown."